The 5th Festival took place on 17, 18 and 19 April 2003. 20 singers form Albania, Austria, Italy, Ukraine, USA, Canada, South Korea, etc. participated in the Festival.

The Symphonic Orchestra of the Theater of Opera and Ballet of Albania accompanied the singers during the 3 concerts of this Festival. The National Public TV broadcast this event, live.

The Prize winners of the 5th Festival were:

First prize “Marie Kraja”	Ms. Kristiane KAISER, soprano (Austria)
Second Prize	Mr. Serhiy MAHERA, bass (Ukraine)
Third Prize	Mr. Fulvio OBERTO, tenor (Italy)

The Jury of the 5th Festival:

Ms. Inva MULA (Albania), Chair
Mr. Dominique MEYER, Director General, Theatre of Sans Elise (Paris)
Ms. Nancy RHODES, Encompass New Opera (New York)
Mr. Bruno dal BON, conductor, President of ASLICO (Milan)
Ms. Claudia EDER, Professor of canto (Frankfurt)
Ms. Valeria KARTALOFF, (Sofia)
Mr. Trues KOLD, Director of Royal Opera House (Copenhagen)
Mr. Philip BOSWELL, Artistic Director of Toronto Opera (Canada)
Mr. Suat ARIKAN, Director of Opera Istanbul (Turkey)
Mr. Elefterios KALKANIS, Opera of Athens (Greece)
Mr. Claudio BUCHLER, conductor (Innsbruck)
Mr. Martin ANDRE, conductor (London)

President of the Festival:

Mr. Edi RAMA
Mayor of Tiran

Artistic Director and Producer:

Mrs. Zana ÇELA

Director:

Pali KUKE

Conductor:

Martin ANDRE (UK)

The International Festival of Operatic Singers “Marie Kraja” organized by the association “Culture-Media-Art is encouraging such a promoting image.